EcosystemEcosystem--Based Management in the Based Management in the Elkhorn Slough Estuary, CAElkhorn Slough Estuary, CA

Barb Peichel, Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Project CoordinatorBarb Peichel, Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Project CoordinatorFebruary 13, 2007February 13, 2007

Elkhorn Slough National Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR)Reserve (ESNERR)

•• 1 of 27 National Reserves1 of 27 National Reserves

•• CA DFG (state) & NOAA (federal)CA DFG (state) & NOAA (federal)

Elkhorn Elkhorn SloughSlough

Estuarine Estuarine HabitatsHabitats

Salt Marsh & Salt Marsh & Tidal CreeksTidal Creeks

796 acres796 acres

Mudflat Mudflat 1,605 acres1,605 acres

Channel & Channel & Tidal Creeks Tidal Creeks

293 acres293 acres

Elkhorn Slough Marsh LossElkhorn Slough Marsh Loss~ 50% since 1870~ 50% since 1870

1870 2000

Elkhorn Slough Elkhorn Slough in the Past: in the Past:

Diking & DrainingDiking & Draining

19311931 19561956

Elkhorn Slough in the Past Elkhorn Slough in the Past ––Morphological & Hydrological ChangesMorphological & Hydrological Changes

1949194919311931

Elkhorn Slough: Elkhorn Slough: River Diversion River Diversion and Connectionsand Connections

19091909

Additional Factors Additional Factors --decreased elevations from decreased elevations from tectonic or groundwater tectonic or groundwater overdraft, habitat and levee overdraft, habitat and levee erosion, seaerosion, sea--level rise, and level rise, and elevated nutrient levelselevated nutrient levels

Channel Widening~ 1.6 feet per year

Habitat & Shoreline Erosion

Tidal Creek Widening

~ 7 ft to 40 ft increase (from 1931 to 2001)

Marsh Loss – interior areas

Marsh Loss

1956 20031931

Interior Marsh Dieback

Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland ProjectElkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland ProjectPart 1Part 1

Purpose of ProjectPurpose of ProjectTo To developdevelop strategies to strategies to conserve, enhance, and conserve, enhance, and restore tidal habitats restore tidal habitats in the Elkhorn Slough in the Elkhorn Slough watershedwatershed

FundingFundingNOAA CIAPNOAA CIAP

ESTWP Participants and RolesESTWP Participants and Roles

Working Groups

Project Goals

Hydrodynamics

Estuary History

Ecology

Monitoring

Large-Scale Restoration Strategies

Science Panel

Peer Review Community Input

Strategic Planning

Team

Outreach

Small-Scale Restoration Strategies

Consultants

Ecosystem-based Management

Science PanelScience PanelRoleRole

–– Provide and review scientific information for the Strategic Provide and review scientific information for the Strategic Planning Team to make management decisionsPlanning Team to make management decisions

WhoWho–– Biologists, hydrologists, geologist, tidal restoration experts, Biologists, hydrologists, geologist, tidal restoration experts,

and water chemistsand water chemists

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteMonterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteCalifornia State University Monterey BayCalifornia State University Monterey BayResource Conservation DistrictResource Conservation DistrictMonterey Bay National Marine SanctuaryMonterey Bay National Marine SanctuaryPoint Reyes Bird ObservatoryPoint Reyes Bird ObservatoryES National Estuarine Research ReserveES National Estuarine Research ReserveSan Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State University

Over 40 membersOver 40 membersU.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological SurveyStanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Nature ConservancyThe Nature ConservancyMoss Landing Marine LaboratoriesMoss Landing Marine LaboratoriesU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Army Corps of EngineersUniversity of California Santa CruzUniversity of California Santa CruzCalifornia Coastal CommissionCalifornia Coastal Commission

5050--YEAR HABITAT PREDICTIONSYEAR HABITAT PREDICTIONSBased on Current Trends

Bank erosion will continue (and may accelerate in the upper Elkhorn Slough) causing significant marsh loss.

Strategic Planning TeamStrategic Planning Team

FEDERAL• Monterey Bay National Marine

Sanctuary - NOAA• National Marine Protected Areas -

NOAA• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

FEDERAL & STATE• Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine

Research Reserve – NOAA/CA DFG (lead)*

STATE• CA Coastal Commission• CA Coastal Conservancy• CA Department of Fish and Game

LOCAL• Monterey County • Moss Landing Harbor District

NONPROFIT/ACADEMIC• Moss Landing Marine Laboratories• CA State University Monterey Bay• Elkhorn Slough Foundation• San Francisco Estuary Institute• The Nature Conservancy• The Ocean Conservancy• University of San Francisco

RolePrimary decision-making body overseeing the project

1. 1. CONSERVE TIDAL HABITATSCONSERVE TIDAL HABITATS-- reduce tidal erosion and marsh lossreduce tidal erosion and marsh loss

2. RESTORE AND ENHANCE TIDAL HABITATS 2. RESTORE AND ENHANCE TIDAL HABITATS –– increase salt marsh/tidal creek, tidal brackish, and quality ofincrease salt marsh/tidal creek, tidal brackish, and quality ofmudflat/subtidal habitatsmudflat/subtidal habitats

3. RESTORE AND ENHANCE NATURAL 3. RESTORE AND ENHANCE NATURAL PROCESSES PROCESSES –– more stable system more stable system –– reduce the tidal prism, reduce the tidal prism, restore tidal exchange, rerestore tidal exchange, re--establish/augment suitable supply of establish/augment suitable supply of sedimentssediments

GOALSGOALS

Potential Restoration AlternativesPotential Restoration AlternativesReduce Interior Marsh Dieback & Habitat ErosionReduce Interior Marsh Dieback & Habitat Erosion

A1. Change the Elkhorn Slough EntranceA1. Change the Elkhorn Slough EntranceA2. Reduce Elkhorn Slough Entrance SizeA2. Reduce Elkhorn Slough Entrance SizeA1&A2. ReA1&A2. Re--establish Sediment Supplyestablish Sediment Supply

Purpose Purpose To To implementimplement conservation conservation and restoration strategies in and restoration strategies in Elkhorn Slough using an Elkhorn Slough using an EBM frameworkEBM framework

FundingFundingDavid and Lucile Packard Foundation &David and Lucile Packard Foundation &Resources Legacy Fund FoundationResources Legacy Fund Foundation

Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland ProjectElkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland ProjectPart 2Part 2

Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBM

Predicting Tidal Hydrology & Sediment ChangesPredicting Tidal Hydrology & Sediment Changes

Interactions of Nutrient DynamicsInteractions of Nutrient Dynamics

Responses of Biological IndicatorsResponses of Biological Indicators

Estimates of Socioeconomic ValuesEstimates of Socioeconomic Values

Analysis of Legal and Political ContextAnalysis of Legal and Political Context

Preliminary Restoration StrategiesPreliminary Restoration Strategies

Final Restoration StrategiesFinal Restoration Strategies

How will tidal hydrology, sediments, and habitats change under the restoration alternatives?

Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBM

Monismith

Kvitek

Protect ecosystem structure, functioning, and key Protect ecosystem structure, functioning, and key processes; Maintain ecosystem resiliencyprocesses; Maintain ecosystem resiliency

Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBM

Acknowledges interconnectedness among systems, such as between air, land and sea

How will nutrient dynamics change under the restoration alternatives?

Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory (LOBO) www.mbari.org/lobo

Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBM

How will the distribution and abundance of key species differ under the restoration alternatives?

Recognizes the importance of interactions between target and non-target species

Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBMIntegrates social, economic, and institutional perspectivesIntegrates social, economic, and institutional perspectives

How will socioeconomics differ under the restoration alternatives and policies are relevant?

Ecosystem Health

Economic ActivityLegal/Regulatory Considerations

+ Stakeholder Interests

$$$ Value $$$ Robust Policy Outcomes

Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Projectwww.elkhornslough.org/tidalwetlandplan